PANDA WAZE: THE MOST SOCIAL CITY CAR EVER

•New milestone for the record-breaking Panda: Panda Waze is the first city car to bear the Waze name, integrating the Waze navigation app as well as being the most social media savvy Panda ever.

•With a Cross spirit on the outside and a social, high-tech soul on the inside

•Developed by Mopar®, the integration of the Waze and 'Panda Uconnect' apps enables drivers to find the best route with the aid of the community, shared in real-time, with immediate route adaptation

•Fiat Panda has been Europe's best-selling city car continuously for the last 14 years

•In the first quarter of 2018, Fiat Panda and 500 together headed their segment in Europe with a market share of 28.4%

When the most popular model in the Fiat range meets the world's most social navigation system, the result is the Panda Waze. This technological integration seeks to use the smartest solutions to simplify and improve life at the wheel, while being affordable for all.

The new Panda Waze special series is the first city car in the segment to integrate the popular Waze navigation app with the 'Panda Uconnect' app, allowing them to be used simultaneously, switching between the functionality with just a touch on a smartphone display. Developed by Mopar, FCA's after-sales products and service provider, this integration allows drivers to focus on driving and still safely enjoy a vast array of complementary services.

The new Panda Waze is a meeting of two vast communities: the 7.5million Fiat Panda owners, who have chosen the car since its launch in 1980, and more than 100million connected Waze users worldwide, who actively collaborate by sharing real-time traffic information for the smartest possible travel.

All the benefits of digital integration of Waze and 'Panda Uconnect'

Waze is the navigation app that lets drivers avoid jams and save time during the daily commute and beyond. Millions of motorists, united in a vast community, cooperate every day to report traffic conditions in real time - enabling the Waze navigation app to find the best routes. The app recommends the fastest route based on data provided in real time, by more than 100 million people. From traffic information to details of petrol stations with the lowest prices, Waze is a reliable travelling companion for surviving the daily urban adventure.

Waze navigation is integrated in the 'Panda Uconnect' app – available on both Android and iOS platforms - which allows the driver's telephone to be used as an extension of the car, interacting directly with the device display to access all infotainment functions: switching radio stations, selecting playlists, adjusting the volume, managing calls and texts, and checking your diary or the weather in real time. The 'Panda Uconnect' app talks to the on-board infotainment system, which includes Bluetooth 2.1 technology, audio streaming and the voice recognition function and handles data reading via USB and MP3.

The Panda Waze integration allows the apps to be used simultaneously: with 'Panda Uconnect' on the smartphone, Waze navigation appears in a box on the screen, with route instructions and the estimated time left to destination. The reverse is also possible, with the Waze app in the foreground and 'Panda Uconnect' as an icon on the screen. If fuel is running out or low tyre pressure is detected, an alert will appear on the smartphone display and the user can decide to select one of the best-priced petrol stations or choose from the nearest workshops offered by the Waze app; just select the destination of choice and Waze will suggest the best route for getting there.

The 'Panda Uconnect' app also features the 'My Car' functionality for checking the car's parameters, including scheduled services, consulting the owner handbook, as well as direct calls to Fiat Customer Care. Drivers can also set an 'Object Reminder' function to prompt them not to leave things in the car when getting out.

The new Panda Waze features the Cross look and will appeal to anyone who wants their car to provide maximum connectivity and a distinctive style. at an affordable price. On the outside, the Panda Waze is identified by the 'Waze' logo below the A pillar, while its urban, dynamic personality is also underlined by black side mouldings, mirror caps, roof bars and door handles. Externally, the look is completed by 15-inch wheels with black covers. The same youthful, dynamic imprint is found on the inside, where the new seat upholstery complements the new titanium grey dashboard. Bluetooth radio, dashboard smartphone holder, steering wheel controls, manual air conditioning, six airbags, ESC with Hill Holder, tyre pressure sensor, remote central locking, body coloured bumpers, front head restraints with whiplash prevention system and adjustable height steering wheel are all included as standard. The Panda Waze is available exclusively with the 1.2-litre 69hp petrol engine.

Yet another record for the Fiat best-seller

The new Panda Waze continues the model's ability to set trends and deliver technological firsts in its segment. As well as being the first city car with 4WD, the Panda was also the first car in its segment to receive the coveted 'Car of the Year' title, in 2004, and in the same year it also became the first city car to climb to an altitude of 5,200m and reach the Everest base camp. The long series of records continued in 2006 when Fiat Panda became the first natural gas fuelled city car to be produced on a large scale and it has been Italy's best-selling natural gas car every year since. And today it is the first city car to bear the Waze name, integrating the app functions into its infotainment system.

The Panda Waze special series expands the range of the city car which, together with Fiat 500, has been European best-seller since 2003. A leadership also confirmed during the first quarter of 2018, when Panda and Fiat 500 headed their segment in Europe with a market share of 28.4%.

The Panda Waze will be in Fiat dealerships from August. For more information on the Fiat Panda please visit www.fiat.co.uk or to locate your nearest Fiat dealer visit www.fiat.co.uk/dealers

by Fiat

A city car, the Panda was introduced by the Italian automotive manufacturer Fiat in 1989. The first generation ran until 2003 with only minor changes and was received with great success all throughout Europe, and polled 2nd in the European Car of the Year award in just its first full year of production. The second generation was introduced in 2003 and had the distinct honor of being named the European Car of the Year for 2004. The original Fiat Panda came in three body style; 3-door hatchback, cabriolet and van and it featured an overall length of 131.5 inches. The Panda was styled and designed by Giorgetta Giugiaro as a modern day 'peasant car'. Easy to use and maintain, the Panda was an inexpensive, no-frills utility vehicle.

The Panda featured box-like styling; which eventually became the standard style for Fiats through the 1980s. The originally Pandas borrowed quite heavily from the Fiat parts bins, the engines and transmissions were taken from the Fiat 127 and the air-cooled 652 cc two-cylinder power-plant from the Fiat 126. The rear suspension drive used a dead axle that was suspended on leaf springs. Panda versions of later years added various mechanical improvements, though the spirit of ‘robust simplicity' has always remained in the design of the Panda.

The utility side of the Panda was evidenced in the 7-position adjustable rear seat that could be folded flat to transform into a bed, or folded into a V shape to make room for awkward loads, or it could quickly and easily be removed completely to increase the overall load space. The seat covers were removable and washable as well as the door trims and dashboard cover. All of the glass panels were flat which made making replacements easy and very cheap to produce. The Panda could be purchased with a full-length roll back canvas roof, much like earlier French counterparts.

The original Panda, the Mark 1 was first introduced with either a two cylinder air-cooled 652 cc engine; the Panda 30, or a four-cylinder water cooled engine that displaced 903 cc; the Panda 45. A practical and very affordable vehicle, the Fiat Panda was ‘sized to fit' between the 126 and 127 in the production line-up with its robust little self. More engines were added to the lineup by Fiat in September of 1982 and the Panda 34 used an 843 cc water-cooled unit that had been derived from the one in the 850.

In 1982 the Panda 45 Super was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show and models of the older specification remained as the 'Comfort' trim. A variety of improvements were offered in the Super, the main one being the availability of a five-speed gearbox and newly improved trim. The Super underwent minor styling that included adding Fiat's new black plastic 'corporate' grille with five diagonal silver bars. The Comfort models retained the earlier grill design of metal with slots on the left for ventilation until the next major revision of the line-up. In February of '83, a 30 Super was added to the lineup with a smaller engine, but featuring the Super trim.

In June of '83, the Panda 4x4 was introduced and was powered by a 965 cc engine with 48 bhp that was derived from the one in the Autobianchi A112. Simply dubbed the Panda 4x4, this was the first ever compact, transverse-engined production vehicle that came with a 4WD system.

In November of 1984, the range received minor revisions that including renaming the 'L', 'CL' and the 'S'. The entire range also received new detailing and specifications that included adopting the Fiat corporate grille on all models. The vehicles remained basically the same mechanically.

The Mark II Original Panda was introduced in January of 1986 and a host of significant mechanical updates were unveiled in this new model. A 796 cc water-cooled 4-cyl unit replaced the 652 cc engine and a 999 cc replaced the 903 cc unit. With a single overhead camshaft, both new engines came from Fiat's new FIRE family of 4 cylinder water-cooled powerplants. Another upgrade to the Panda was the rear suspension as the leaf springs were replaced with a much more modern independent suspension system that used a rigid rear axle with coil springs and a central mounting.

The inside of the Panda and the structure itself also received improvements. The earlier Panda's had an aptitude to rust, so the body was strengthened and fully galvanized on later models. The outside rear panel was updated to now included flared arches that mimicked the ones on the front weeks and completely replaced the un-sculpted style that was found on earlier models. The doors also received an update that included deleting the quarter light windows and replacing them with a full width roll-down window. Unfortunately the bottom seam of the MK II's door still had the original tendency to rust. This range ran in an ascending order of cost and specification; 750L, 750CL, 750S, 1000CL, 1000S and 4x4.

A 1301 cc diesel engine was introduced in April of 1986 and it came with 37 bhp. This engine was only available in the basic 'L' trim and was fitted as standard with a five speed gearbox. The Panda also introduced a van variant tat came with both diesel and petrol engines. The Panda Van was basically a standard Panda without rear seats and the rear windows were replaced with plastic blanking panels and a small black plastic extension with side hinged doors rather than the usual hatchback tailgate. In the right hand markets either the van or the diesel was available.

A new entry level model was introduced in 187, the 'Panda Young' which was basically an L spec vehicle with a 76 cc OHV engine that was based on the old 903 cc push-rod engine. It produced the same 34 bhp with the more sophisticated 769 cc FIRE unit. Also introduced this year was the Panda 4X4 Sisley limited edition that was based on the standard 4X4 but it came with metallic paint, sunroof, inclinometer, roof rack, white painted wheels, bonnet scoop, headlamp washers and 'Sisley' badging and trim. When it was first created, the Sisley model was originally limited to only 500 units, but it became a permanent model due to its extreme popularity.

Introduced in 1990, the two-seat Panda Elettra joined the lineup and added an all-electric powertrain. Replacing the rear seat was batteries, and it also occupied some of the engine bay were the 19 bhp DC motor was also placed, driving through the normal clutch and gearbox. The car's weight was up to 2535 lbs, and required stiffer suspension and up-rated brakes. Two years later the Ellettra received a power increase to 23.8 bhp and a reduction in weight, though the Elettra continued to remain the heaviest model in the Panda line.

The MK II underwent a significant facelift in 1991 and the changes included a new front grille and a smaller five-bar corporate badge, while the whole lineup received trim revisions and specifications. New for this year was the 'Selecta' which came with an electromagnetic clutch and a continuously variable transmission. This more elite transmission was available either with the normal 999 cc FIRE engine and could be revised with a single-point fuel injection and a catalytic converter. Other options included an all new 1108 cc FIRE unit that was fitted with electronic fuel injection and a three-way catalytic converter and could produce 51 bhp.

The all new CLX trim came with a five-speed gearbox as standard. The Panda line now included the 750 Young, 750 and 750 CLX, 900 Dance, 1000 Shopping, CLX, CL Selecta and S, 1100 CL Selecta and the 4X4 Trekking and Elettra. The 999 cc unit with SPI and catalytic converter was replaced with the 1108 cc engine in 1992. In 1992 an 899 cc was introduced and was available in the 'Café' special edition. This edition came with a reduced capacity 903 cc unit that was designed to meet tax requirements in various markets.

The Fiat Panda was slowly phased out across Europe from 1996 on because of tightening emissions and safety legislation. Until May 2003 the Panda remained in production in Italy. The Panda has become one of Europe's longest lived small vehicles during its 23 years of production. Unfortunately most of the Mark I models have rusted, but the Mark II variant continues to remain a common sight on the roadways of continental Europe. The original Panda wasn't as popular as the VW Beetle or the 2CV, but it was a strong vehicle in its own right. The 4X4 Panda was quite a popular model due to its inexpensive price, and sturdy quality in rural areas. A 4X4 Panda Climbing version was introduced, but it didn't have the same popularity as the original model.

The newest Panda generation was introduced in 2003, and was dubbed the Model 169 during its development phase. Originally the vehicle was to be named 'Gingo', but the nomenclature was too similar to the Renault Twingo, so the Panda name continued. This new model replaced the old Panda following 23 years of production, and was the successor to the Fiat Seicento. The Seicento was still popular and continued to remain in production. The Panda, like the Seicento, was manufactured exclusively in Tychy, Poland by Fiat Auto Poland. In 2007, a smaller, 3-door Fiat was added to the lineup, the new 500.

Much of the Panda's styling cues were taken from mini SUVs and mini MPVs, especially in the tail lights which were very similar to the larger Volvo cars. In 2004 the Fiat Panda received the European Car of the Year award.

Now a four-seater, the Panda now included an option for split rear seats. From September 2005 onwards, all Fiat Pandas are equipped with ABS, EBD, stability control and a minimum of two front airbags. To make changing gears more comfortable, the gear-lever is located up high on the central dashboard, rather than the conventional floor mounted gearstick.

Fiat was under a lot of trouble financially, and the newest Panda had to be a success. Thankfully it was and more than half a million units were sold by October of 2005. It was especially popular in Italy, mostly because over half of the vehicles produced were sold in Italy. On September 5, 2007, the 1,000,000th new Panda was built; a red Panda 4X4 Climbing with the 1.2-liter petrol engine.

In 2006, the Top Gear Motoring Survey ranked the Panda 8th out of 152 vehicles that were surveyed for craftsmanship, reliability, driving experience, ownership costs and service received. For 2007 the Panda underwent minor revisions that included a new, darker dashboard and the Active model received new darker seat fabrics of better quality and a CD player.

In 2006 Fiat Panda introduced a Hydrogen Concept car that came with Nuvera's new Andromeda II fuel cell stack. With a cold start capability, the hydrogen fuel cell allowed the car to have high power density and durability. Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc., was a high-tech developer from Massachusetts and Italy who developed the Andromeda II. Fiat was excited to feature the first vehicle with this advancement.

The Hydrogen Panda came with three main fuel cell components that included an advanced turbo-blower, a humidifying and a cooling system that could correctly manage the reagent gases and the auxiliary component sets. This advanced system allowed the Panda to function at a higher capacity and featured smooth handling. The transmission and alternating current three-phase asynchronous electric engine was located underneath the hood. Utilizing a full power system, the 2006 Fiat Panda Hydrogen lacked a drive battery for the accumulation of electrical energy. The Concept receives enough energy directly from the hydrogen tank to fuel cell to deliver the necessary electricity to its high-torque electrical motors.

The '06 Panda Concept could achieve 0 to 30 mph in just five seconds and had a top speed of 78 MPH. The Fiat Panda Hydrogen Car can make it up a 23-degree slope on takeoff, unlike other low-powered hydrogen vehicles. The Concept featured a refueling time of less than five minutes and boasted a travel distance of more than 120 miles.

by Jessican Donaldson